Report of the Russian Centre for reconciliation of opposing sides in the Syrian Arab Republic (March 1, 2016)

General information on the application of measures for the reconciliation of opposing sides

In the course of the last day, the Russian party has signed cease-fire agreements with four commanders of moderate opposition units, which controlled Dumeir (Damascus province). Total number of reconciliation agreements has reached 38.

Peacemaking negotiations with leaders of five armed formations located in the Damascus, Daraa and Homs province are continued.

By the mediation of the Russian Federation, leadership of the Daraa province had meetings with civilians from Etbaa, al-Samein, Mesmia, Nava, Saida and Nahtah. More than 1,000 people participated in the meeting.

In accordance to the meeting results, 842 members of Jaysh al-Islam, Free Syrian Army and al-Yarmuk Brigade signed consents to stop warfare and back to the peaceful life.

The meeting took place despite efforts of radical groups taken in order to foil the event. Several civilians were beaten by militants on their way to the meeting.

Moreover, militants have captured retired Colonel of the Syrian army Zaidan al-Nasirat, who is one of the meeting initiators.

Results of ceasefire monitoring

Fifteen cease-fire violations have been registered. The most of them took place in Damascus, and provinces of Aleppo, Homs and Latakia.

Thus, positions of government troops and Kurdish units as well as inhabited areas in the north-west of Aleppo have been attacked with mortars and small arms for five times.

In Damascus, Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist groups opened mortar fire against al-Madje Azra, Mukhim al-Vafdein and central jail area at 5.00 – 5.30 a.m. for three times. As the result, a civilian was killed and three others received wounds of varying severity.

Near Marj al-Sultan (Damascus), a militants’ group took efforts to force positions of Syrian army.

In the Latakia province, Jabhat al-Nusra militants, who controlled Kabana, Kanedda, Bdama and Narphus, opened mortar and small arms fire against positions of government troops in order to instigate to open fire in response. The Syrian army units did not fired in response.

In Homs province, militants took efforts to attack positions of government troops and militia near Narb Nafsa.

The raising number of cease-fire violations is caused by efforts taken by the ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra leadership in order to foil the truce regime by shelling positions of government troops and inhabited areas with oppositions located in the areas controlled by “moderate opposition”.

Russian Aerospace Forces have not carry out strikes on regions controlled by “moderate opposition”, which had joined peacemaking agreements and have been following them.

Additional information

On February 29, the Russian Centre for reconciliation of opposing sides in the Syrian Arab Republic received from the American party a list 61 armed opposition groups, which confirmed their loyalty and agreement with the terms of the ceasefire in Syria, in addition to 69 previous ones.